Pivoted louver with seating pad



Feb. E. A. MADER 2,311,950

PIVOTED LOUVER WITH SEATING PAD Fi1ed Feb. 17, 1941 3nventor I Emil Alhdzr Gttorn Patented Feb. 23, 1943 PIVOTED LOUVER WITH SEATING PAD Emil A. Mader, Detroit, Mich, assignor of onehalf to John Spargo, Detroit, Mich.-

Application February 17, 1941, Serial No. 379,285

Claims.

This invention relates to pivotal louvers and particularly to the attachment to such louvers of pads for deadening sound.

An object of the invention is to equip a louver with a sound-deadening pad for seating an adjacent louver, and to dispose said pad at or near the pivotal edge of the louver, so that the leverage effect of any moisture which may be absorbed by the pad will be a minimum.

Another object is to so dispose a sound-deadening pad on a pivotal louver as to afford such pad a maximum of protection from such dust, dirt and moisture as may contaminate air flowing past the louver, in its opened position.

A further object is to form a louver with a marginal tube for engaging a rod forming a pivotal support for the louver, and to so form said tube that it will serve to securely attach to the louver a sound-deadening pad for seating an adjacent louver.

Another object is to provide a sheet metal louver at one of its margins with a tube for embracing a pivotal supporting rod, and to form such tube with a wall comprising two thicknesses of sheet metal, whereby the tube is much stiffer and stronger than in prior practice.

A further object is to secure a sound-deadening pad between th two thicknesses of the tube wall, while allowing the pad to project between the louver and tube sufficiently to form an adequate seat for an adjacent louver.

These and various other objects are attained by the construction hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary exterior view of a pivotal louver showing my improved provision for attaching a pad to said louver.

Fig. 2 is an end View of said louver, partially showing other louvers of the same set.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the tube-forming upper portion of a louver, showing a modified provision for attaching a sound-deadening pad.

In Figs. 1 and 2, the reference character I designates two or more sheet-metal louvers, adapted to swing pivotally to jointly control an air-flow opening (not shown) It is common and highly desirable to form such louvers of aluminum or some similarly light metal permitting them to be readily swung open by air pressure applied at one side of the controlled opening. The louvers I are engaged with pivotal supporting rods 2 by fashioning a marginal portion of each louver, and preferably its upper margin, into a tube 3, proportioned to snugly receive the corresponding rod.

Departing sharply from prior practice, each tube 3 is formed of two thicknesses of sheet metal, and between such thicknesses is tightly clamped a substantially tubular portion of a pad 4, formed of felt or similar yielding material suited to exercise a sound-deadening function. Said pad projects downward beyond the tube and uponthe exterior face of the corresponding louver to form an adequate seating area for the lower margin of an overlying louver of the same set.

The lower marginal portion of each louver is arched, as indicated at 5, so that it may slightly clear the tube 3 of the adjacent underlying louver, while its lower edge seats against the padof the underlying louver.

The preferred method of forming the tube and engaging the pad therewith is to firstdisposethe pad on the louver at a'predetermined distance from the edge of its tube-forming margin. Said margin is then formed with a return-bend in close proximity to the pad whereby the upper portion of said margin is folded over the upper portion ofthe pad. The double-walled portion of the louver thus formed, together with the portion of the pad confined between the wallsis now rolled to tube form or is shaped to thatiform by successive press operations, and preferably the rod 2 is at the same time held in such proximity to .the louver that the tube will be formed around and snugly grip the rod. When the described operations are completed, the return-bend of'the tube is substantially contiguous with the'louver edge bordering the tube-forming margin, as clearly appears in Fig. 2, and a seat-forming portion of the pad 4 is exposed below the tube.

It has been found that the pad may be very securely and easily attached to a louver in the above-described manner, and that furthermore the described double-walled tube is much stiffer and stronger than tubes heretofore formed by marginal portions of louvers. Because of the superior stiifness of the double-walled tube, it need not receive as heavy a rod as has been required in :prior constructions. Furthermore, the confinement of a portion of the pad tightly between the two walls of the tube largely reduces the sound transmitting characteristic of the tube and assures against vibration or chattering of the tube.

When the described louvers are swung open, as indicated in dash lines in Fig. 2, the air flowing past the louvers very largely clears the pads 4, owing to tangential relation of the latter to the tubes, and consequently the pads have far less tendency to accumulate grease, dust and dirt than in prior practice. There is no necessity for confining the downwardly projecting portion of the pad, since any pressure to which it may be subjected by the current of air tends to hold it properly positioned against the associated louver. In the modification shown by Fig. 3, the louver la is formed with a double-walled tube 3a, such as has been already described, the two walls, however, being in close mutual proximity without intervening sound insulation. A pad 4a of felt or the like is seated upon a terminal portion 9 of one of said walls, which portion projects a short distance below the tube and is terminally return-bent, as indicated at 6 to grip the lower margin of the pad to'firmly attach the latter to the louver. Preferably the upper margin of the pad is held in place by engaging said margin between the return-bent edge 1 of the tube and the wall which provides a seat for the felt. By forming the louver with a slight offset 8 adjacent to the return-bent lower edge of the pad-seating wall, the'possibility is decreased. of moisture or dirtlodging between 'said'wall andthe main body-of the louver. The pad 4a exercises the same seating function as the pad 4, first described.

The invention in each of its described forms effects a secure mounting of the pad in such proximity to the pivotal tube, as minimizes any leverage effect exercised by the pad. Also in each modification the tangential relation of the pad to the tube is such that the latter deflects air when the louvers are open so as to minimize any transfer'of dirt or moisture from the air to the pad.

What I claim is: i

1. A sheet metallouver formed with a return bend imparting a double thickness to a marginal portion of the sheet metal, and having such portion fashioned to tubular form to receive a pivot element. V

2. The combination with a louver formed with a double-walled tube to receive a pivot element, of sound insulation interposed between thewalls of said tube.

3. The combination with a louver formed with a double-walled tubular marginal portion for receiving a pivot. element; of an'insulating pad secured between'the walls of said portion and projecting sufficiently from the tubular portion along a face of the louver to form a seat for a companion louver.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3, said pad being tangential to the tubular portion.

5. The method of forming a-louver with a tube for receiving a pivot element, consisting in bending a marginal portion of the louver to overlie an adjacent louver portion, and then fashioning both said portions to substantially tubular form.

6. The method of attaching a sound-deadening pad to a louver, consisting in bending the louver to engage opposite faces of the pad by substantially parallel portions of the louver and fashioning saidportions together with the pad to a substantially tubular form.

7. The combination with a louver bent to form a tube for pivotally mounting the louver and having a terminal portion substantially tangential to the tube projecting from the tube along and substantially against and parallel to the louver, of a sound-deadening pad seated on said terminal portion, and means attaching the pad to said terminal portio 'iatthe margin of the pad remote from the'tube- 8. The combination with a louver bent to form a tube for pivotally mounting the louver and having a terminal portion substantially tangential to the tube projecting from the. tube along and substantially parallel to the louver, of a sound-deadening pad seated on said terminal portion, said terminal portion being returnw-bent to embrace the margin of the pad remote from the tube, whereby the pad is held in place.

9. The combination with a louver return-bent to form a"double-walledmarginal portion and having such portion bent to form a doublewalled tube for pivotally mounting the louver, one of the tube walls having a projection therefrom along and substantially parallel to the louver, of a sound-deadening pad seated on said projection, and means attaching the margin of said pad remote from the tube to said projection,

10. The combination with a pivot rod and a louver having a portion fashioned to tubular form to receive said rod, of a sound-deadening pad substantially conforming to the tubular portion of the louver and interposed between said portion and the rod, and projecting sufliciently from said portion along the louver to form a seat for a companion louver.

EMIL A. MADER. 

